Udayana University Team Wins 2nd Runner Up (3rd Place) in National University Debating Competition 2023

Good news has come again from Udayana University (Unud) students who are competing in the 2023 National University Debating Competition (NUDC) organized by the Indonesian Talent Development Center (BPTI) National Achievement Center (Puspresnas). NUDC is a national-scale inter-university debate activity where this activity has been going on since 2008 and annually produces Indonesian delegates for the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC). National level selection was held at Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (Untirta), Serang City, Banten Province.

New history for Unud because for the first time he entered as a finalist and won a bronze medal in the NUDC for the Open Team Award category, which previously in 2021 Unud won gold but was still in the Novice/beginner category. However, currently the Udayana University team consisting of Farrell Yano Tonapa and Joshua Amadeo Enzo Rivaldo Karouw accompanied by Advisor Ni Luh Putu Krisnawati, SS., M.Hum won 2nd Runner Up (3rd Place) in the Open NUDC Category. With this achievement, the Unud Team will continue to the level of the 2023 World University Debating Championship in Vietnam. Awards to the winners were handed over by the Chancellor of Untirta in the NUDC 2023 Closing Ceremony, Sunday (11/6/2023) evening.

Head of the National Achievement Center of the Ministry of Education and Culture Ir. Hendarman, in his report said that NUDC 2023 is an annual activity held by the Indonesian Talent Development Center as part of carrying out roles in the field of achievement development and talent management. This activity aims to increase the competitiveness of university students and graduates through the media of scientific debate. There were 112 teams participating in this activity with a total of 336 participants consisting of students and lecturers from 112 universities throughout Indonesia. The winners will be further developed to represent Indonesia in the international arena.

Rector of Untirta Prof. H. Fatah Sulaiman in his speech admitted that he was very proud of the ability of the debaters who were very impressive. He is optimistic that the NUDC 2023 participants, both the winners and the finalists, will bring Indonesia forward. Personally and on behalf of the institution, he also expressed his gratitude to all NUDC 2023 participants.

While Plt. Director General of Higher Education, Research and Technology Prof. Nizam said that he attended the event and was very excited to see the debate between participants and felt proud to see young people as young intellectuals who were critical and solutive, building clear and logical arguments based on the ability to quickly analyze data and phenomena, explore facts and opinions. , as well as dissecting information and arranged in the choice of the right diction sentence. Debate is one of the important competencies for every citizen, because it requires broad skills and insights and critical thinking. The ability to argue is carried out in a sportsmanlike, polite and emotionless manner so as to be able to present convincing arguments, analyze evidence, and develop critical skills. Most important is how to foster a culture of open dialogue and differences of opinion and mutual respect.

"We hope that students will get used to differences of opinion and get used to arguing in a healthy debate. Let's encourage a culture of critical thinking, critical reasoning, listening deeply, and mutual respect for one another," said Prof. Nizam while closing the activity.